ASCAP NAMES YEAR 2006 ORCHESTRA AWARDS FOR"ADVENTUROUS PROGRAMMING" AT AMERICAN SYMPHONYORCHESTRA LEAGUE CONFERENCE IN LOS ANGELES

New York, NY, June 2, 2006: The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) honored orchestras demonstrating exceptional commitment to contemporary composers during the American Symphony Orchestra League's (ASOL) 61st National Conference held May 30 - June 3, 2006 in Los Angeles, CA. The annual ASCAP Adventurous Programming Awards recognize American orchestras whose concert programs prominently feature music composed within the last twenty-five years.

A total of 27 awards were presented during a celebration and reception held today at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, including a special commendation to The American Symphony Orchestra League and Meet the Composer for their Ford Made in America Commissioning Project, which has inspired 65 orchestras to co-commission and champion a new work by a living American composer.

Introducing the Adventurous Programming Awards presentation, Frances Richard, ASCAP's Vice President of Concert Music, said: "2006 marks the 49th year that ASCAP salutes those orchestras and music directors whose programming during the past season has prominently featured music written within the past twenty-five years. Through their adventurous programming, these are the orchestras that enrich the repertory and keep our great concert music tradition relevant, vibrant and alive."

Richard introduced ASCAP Board Member Bruce Broughton to present the awards, describing him as "one of the most versatile concert composers, known best for his award winning scores for film and TV, who has created wonderful electronic scores and works for orchestra, chamber orchestra, concert band and chamber ensemble."

The winners are:

John S. Edwards Award for Strongest Commitment to New American Music
Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, Artistic Director

Orchestras with Annual Operating Expenses $1.7 - $5.5 Million
First Place: Oakland East Bay Symphony, Michael Morgan, Music Director
Second Place: Memphis Symphony Orchestra, David Loebel, Music Director and Conductor

Orchestras with Annual Operating Expenses $455,000 - $1.7 Million
First Place: American Composers Orchestra, Steven Sloane, Music Director; Robert Beaser, Artistic Director
Second Place: South Dakota Symphony, Delta David Gier, Music Director
Third Place (tie): Albany Symphony Orchestra, David Alan Miller, Music Director and Conductor; and Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Kent Nagano, Music Director and Conductor

Orchestras with Annual Operating Expenses $455,000 or less
First Place: New England Philharmonic, Richard Pittman, Music Director Second Place: Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, Warren Friesen, Artistic Director and Conductor
Third Place: St. Cloud Symphony, William Schrickel, Music Director

Special Commendation
The American Symphony Orchestra League and Meet the Composer for their Ford Made in America Commissioning Project, which has inspired 65 orchestras to co-commission and champion a new work by a living American composer.

About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 240,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members. ASCAP also represents the repertories created by the international affiliates of 70 foreign performing rights organizations. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American Performing Rights Organization owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com